Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, the Chairman Emeritus of the Oberoi Group and a veteran of the Indian hospitality industry, took his last breath at the age of 94 on Tuesday. Fondly known as ‘Biki’, he has left behind an indelible legacy that redefined the Indian hotel and hospitality industry forever. He is survived by his wife and his son Vikramjit Singh Oberoi is the CEO and managing director of EIH and his 2 daughters.
Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi is the son of late Rai Bahadur Mohan singh Oberoi, the founder of The Oberoi Group. Oberoi took over as the chairman of EIH Limited – the flagship of Oberoi Group — following the death of Mohan Singh Oberoi, his father and the founding chairman of The Oberoi Group, in 2002. Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi took over the legacy.
Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi was educated in India, the United Kingdom and in Switzerland.
In addition to providing leadership for the management of luxury hotels in several countries, Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi has been instrumental in pioneering the development of Oberoi Hotels and Resorts. The Oberoi brand has come to represent fine luxury hotels.
Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi is credited with placing Oberoi hotels on the international luxury travellers map with the opening of several luxury hotels in important cities.
It is Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi’s firm belief that people are the most valuable asset of any organisation.
Recognising the importance of quality in hospitality management, P.R.S. Oberoi established The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development at New Delhi in 1967. The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development is considered amongst the best in Asia.
Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi has received numerous awards and accolades. Amongst the important awards are: In January 2008, Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian honour, in recognition of his exceptional service to the country.
Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi was also conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award at ILTM (International Luxury Travel Market) held in Cannes in December 2012. The award was bestowed on him as a global recognition of his exceptional leadership, vision and contribution to develop The Oberoi Group as one of the world’s leading luxury hotel chains.
Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi was presented with the ‘2010 Corporate Hotelier of the World’ award by HOTELS magazine in November 2010. This annual award is determined by votes cast by readers of the magazine in more than 150 countries. The cover story of the November edition of the magazine referred to Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi as ‘the founder father of modern luxury hospitality in India’ and credited him with growing the company ‘into one of the world’s most prestigious luxury hotel groups’.
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In recognition of his exceptional leadership and vision, the 6th International Hotels Investment Forum in Berlin honoured Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in March 2003.
Forbes India Leadership Awards honoured Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
In November 2012, Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the Indian Hospitality Industry by Economic Times, Awards for Corporate Excellence 2012.
Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi was also conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award at the CNBC TV 18 India Business Leader Awards 2007 for building a world-class hotel chain that caters to both luxury and business travellers and for shaping the hospitality industry of the country.
Business India magazine adjudged Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi the Businessman of the Year 2008. He received this award for building a world-class premium hospitality brand.
In November 2008, Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for redefining design standards in luxury hotels.
In October 2005, the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), which is the preeminent gathering of hotel investors, investment bankers and leading industry professionals in the region, honoured Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi with the Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual Conference in Hong Kong. This award was given in recognition of his contribution to the hospitality industry and his pioneering leadership in making The Oberoi Group a global brand by taking the concept of luxury to a new paradigm.
In February 2013, Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Management by The All India Management Association (AIMA).
In 2015, Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi was voted amongst CNBC TV18’s Top 15 Indian Business Icons.
Mr. Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi decided to relinquish his position as Chairman and Director of EIH Limited effective 3rd May 2022.
When terrorists attacked the Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai 15 years ago, Oberoi ensured that the hotel returned to normalcy in a short period. “His many achievements were never sufficiently recognised. Made ‘Oberoi’ a global byword for the Indian luxury hospitality and the first to put an Indian hotel on the very top of global rankings. He also rallied the group quietly post the 26/11 attack on their Mumbai flagship.
His cremation Is held at bhagwanti Oberoi charitable trust, Oberoi farm kapashera starting at 4:00 pm today.
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